Tractor Sizing Time to upgrade from my L3400, need advice

[RedNeckRacin]

You are welcome. Do any of your neighbors have larger mowers that you could hook onto and try out?

 

[TripleR]

I do not know your age.

I am 68 years old.

I appreciate the deLuxe features on my 'Grand L' 3560 more with every passing year.

Consider a L5460 as well as the MX5200. Pretty much the same tractor specs. The 'Grand L' L5460 has EVERYTHING, the MX5200 is the utility version. The L5460 will be somewhat more money. You may find the deLuxe features are worth it. (And, yes, the deluxe features increase productivity.)

Same situation here and my last two new tractors were both pretty expensive, but well worth it to me, over the time I will own them, cost is not an issue for me. A friend of mine also in his 60s saved money on a less featured machine a couple of years ago and sure wishes he could do it over again, it just depends on each person's situation.

I wish I could take credit for my wise choice, but I initially intended to buy an economy tractor, but my wife talked me out of it.

 

[jeff9366]

While what "somewhat more money" is might be subjective... I would characterize it as "a lot more money."

I do not know your age either.

After 65 you become much more susceptible to injury doing tractor work. After 65 your strength declines, endurance shortens.

Even with Medicare potential co-pays for medical treatment and opportunity cost of time with medicos soon equal the price difference between a MX5200 and a L5460.

As you age, if you do not consider health and accident prevention on a daily basis it can be cripplingly expensive.

And the deLuxe features, especially the HST-PLUS transmission, add to productivity.

Lastly: "You can't take it with you".

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

I do not know your age either.

After 65 you become much more susceptible to injury doing tractor work. After 65 your strength declines.

Even with Medicare potential co-pays for medical treatment and opportunity cost of time with medicos soon equal the price difference between a MX5200 and a L5460.

As you age, if you do not consider health and accident prevention on a daily basis it can be cripplingly expensive.

And the deLuxe features, especially the HST-PLUS transmission, add to productivity.

Lastly: "You can't take it with you".

Fair enough.

 

[Owensdad]

So I sold the l3400 and now I've got cash burning a hole in my pocket. I'm pretty well convinced that I should go with the MX5800, but still have a few doubts. I think it will have enough power to pull a light duty 12' batwing, probably the Woods BW12. Specs state that it requires 35 PTO and the MX5800 has 50. My long time dealer/mechanic thinks it will be fine. Also I emailed Woods directly and they think it will be more than fine. I'm a bit worried about the weight/size of the tractor. Dealer recommends filling the rear tires. Consensus on this site seems to be that the MX tractors are light. While I love the HST transmission, but I still think the tractor might be too small. I test drove an M5660 which has a hydraulic shuttle transmission. I'm sure I could get used to it, but I think I would prefer the HST. Also realized that the M is quite a bit bigger than the MX, again well documented on this site, but much more noticeable in person, imagine that. If I were only going to be pulling a brush hog, I'd go with the bigger machine for sure, but I'll also be pulling a finish mower and doing general farm chores which are better suited to the smaller HST. I guess this is more of a rant than a question, but any guidance would be appreciated.

 

[teg]

At work we have different size tractors for different jobs... bottom line, no ONE tractor will do it all well. Every one will have pros and cons for different tasks. YOU need to find your balance.

Can you tryout the tractor on your property before you buy?

 

[TripleR]

Pretty much what teg said, we have tractors from 22HP SCUTs to 85HP UT because no one makes a good "does everything well machine". You will be on target when you figure out which one best fits the things you do most.

I use a tractor the size and power of the MX5800 and filled the tires and added wheel weights to get the weight and traction I wanted.

If you have never used a hydraulic shuttle shift, try one out as it is in my opinion the next best thing to an HST.

 

[jeff9366]

Dealer recommends filling the rear tires. Consensus on this site seems to be that the MX tractors are light.

While I love the HST transmission, but I still think the tractor might be too small.

I'll be pulling a finish mower and doing general farm chores which are better suited to the smaller HST.

If you fill the rear tires it is probable you will cause ruts in your turf when using the Finish Mower.

I presume you have settled on R4 Industrial Tires.

The bare tractor weight on the MX5800 is right at two tons, a big increase from L3400 bare tractor 2,600 pounds.

Any implement mounted on the Three Point Hitch will transfer a considerable portion of its weight to the tractor's rear wheels.

 

[Owensdad]

Yes I am pretty well settled on R-4 tires.

I realize that I am looking for one thing that will handle a wide variety of jobs and that means trade offs. If money were no object, I'd probably buy two tractors!

 

[4570Man]

A Grand series tractor is worth every cent extra. My Grand L3240 is twice maybe 3 times the tractor my Grandpas L3800 is